Wildlife Photography Tour - St. Louis Zoo
“The care and protection of our animals, the conservation of their species and the preservation of the wild places where they exist are the driving forces of all organizational activities.”
- St. Louis Zoo
Group Tour
The St. Louis Zoo cares for many species. You can find, Mammals, Reptiles, Birds, Amphibians, Fish, and Invertebrates.
We schedule this tour strategically throughout the year to work around Zoo events, and to work with the Zoo for permits.
This is an excellent Tour for beginners to have guaranteed subjects to get practice in the field with an experienced wildlife photographer.
$79 / person
3+ Hours
Dates & Times:
Duration:
Price:
Book Now for Dates & Times
This Tour is scheduled throughout the year as needed. No scheduled events in December.
Start times vary throughout the year to take advantage of the best light and target species activity.
Location:
St. Louis Zoo
1 Government Dr, St. Louis, MO 63110
St. Louis Zoo Policies
A condition of photographing at the Zoo is that we:
Do Not disturb the animals
Do Not disrupt other visitors
For this reason, please:
Do Not bring a flash (or turn this feature off)
Do Not bring a large tripod (travel tripods or a monopod are typically fine; they should be able to be folded and stored in your bag)
Do bring a small camera bag. It will likely be searched, so ensure you do not have any tools that can be considered a weapon.
How It Works:
Book Now to select a date that works for you.
Small groups (max 5 guests) allow us to find great opportunities and provide tailored instruction to each participant
Let us know any specific goals, a little about your photographic style, and what gear you plan to bring through our form during checkout.
Rent any gear that you may be missing or would like to try
Arrive at the meeting Location at least 15 minutes early
Your guide will provide instructions during a brief introduction, the group will make its way to a great location, timed to take advantage of the Golden Hour light.
What You Should Bring:
Required:
Camera
“Point and Shoot” or “Bridge” Cameras are perfectly fine for this Tour.
Some photographers may decide to bring two camera bodies to allow for choices of mounted lenses in the field.
Lenses
We can support lenses of any size. We suggest a lens between 100 - 600mm. If you prefer more environmental shots, lenses starting at 28mm may be appropriate.
Please note that group tours may include others with differing focal lengths.
Fully charged battery
Memory Card
Appropriate Clothing for the Tour
Wear neutral, earth-tone colors like khaki, brown, beige, gray, and olive. Breathable clothing with layers for temperature control is best.
Optional:
Camera Bag
Camera Straps
Camera Support (Small Travel Tripod, Monopod)
Sunscreen
Insect Repellent
What We Provide:
One or more experienced photographers will guide you and assist with photography.
Please note that this is a Tour, not a Workshop (learn more about the differences here). As such, this event focuses on placing participants in prime locations and at optimal times for great photographs.
Your guide will assist with photography in the field (including but not limited to camera settings, composition, field craft, species identification, etc.).
Water & Snacks
Refunds, Cancellations, & Rescheduling:
The standard Refunds, Cancellations, and Rescheduling Policy applies.
Private Tour
Experience the same great Tour but with one-on-one guidance.
Benefits of Private Tours:
Additional time - We will arrive on location earlier to have more time to photograph and scope out a spot for the golden hour.
It’s all about you! Tailored locations and subjects based solely on your preferences.
Instruction and guidance are specific to your photography style, goals, gear, and preferred setup.
There’s a greater opportunity for teaching time in the field.
We can be more agile and get to different locations/angles without a larger group.
Some typical Private Tour benefits are less likely at this venue:
Distances from the subject are based on your focal lengths, not the group.
Within respectful limits, we can typically get closer to wildlife.
$349 (up to 2 people)
5+ Hours
Duration:
Price:
$79 / additional person (max of 5 in a group)
NOTE: Benefits for a Private Tour with more than 2 people change. Now it’s more about having one group that can decide together.
Dates & Times:
Book Now for Dates & Times
Dates are the same as group tours, though the times are different. Private Tours start earlier.
Fun Fact
“The head of the male lesser kudu, with his elegant spiraled horns, is the symbol of the Saint Louis Zoo.”
While the lesser kudu’s range is in eastern Africa, the greater kudu has a larger range, including parts of southern, eastern and central Africa.
Pictured here is a greater kudu taken in Zimbabwe.
Gear can be one of the most expensive aspects of photography.
While there are less expensive options, a professional wildlife setup can cost $20,000 - $40,000. Often, it’s ideal to rent what you need for the time you need it.
If you’re taking a trip, want to try out a new piece of gear before buying it, or have a shot that requires a specific item, take a look at our rentals.
Individual Items
Kits
Packaged “Kits” for particular applications and/or budgets. Save up to 20% off by bundling.
Policies
Rentals are available in 24-hour increments
If you're not joining a Tour / Workshop, please contact us to arrange pickup. (Additional charges may apply.)
If the item is damaged, lost, or stolen, renter will pay $500 deductible or replacement cost of item(s), whichever is less. (For large rentals, the $500 deductible may be held in advance.)
Need help preparing for this tour?
Enroll in a Private Instruction session, and we’ll cover it in detail.